Thursday 3 October 2013

Christine Rains is on a blog tour...

And last but not least on my recent guest post list, Christine Rains has popped in for a very special post as part of her The 13th Floor Complete Collection blog tour.

Take it away, Christine....



NEW AUTHOR PHOTO REVEAL by Christine Rains

The camera hates me. We have an agreement. I take the pictures and never step in front of it. The camera continues to take cute photos of my son.

But it's time for a new author photo. The one I use now is nearly three years old. While it's satisfactory, it doesn't look like the every day me any more. One of the most important jobs of an author photo is to give readers a reference so that if they happen to see you out and about, they'll recognize you. It's also part of marketing your brand. You are as much of a part of your brand as your books. You should update your author photo often.

If you can afford it, get a professional to take your photo. It needs to be clean, simple, and friendly. The background should be neutral. Don't doll yourself up with lots of make-up or wear fancy clothes. Just be yourself. Some people can pull off quirky, but most of us shouldn't go with gimmicks. Think about your favorite books and smile.

I'm more nervous revealing this photo than I was the cover to the 13th Floor Collection. I can't afford to get a professional photo done, but my husband has a keen eye and a steady hand. He borrowed the fancy camera from his work, and we did a photo session. There were several dozen shots. My glasses kept reflecting the flash. My smile was crooked, and there's a freckle on the tip of my nose. Ack!

So here we go. Paranormal romance author Christine Rains.


I can't pull off quirky, but there was one prop that refused to be left out of the photo shoot. This one is for all the Tawa fans!



Have you updated your author photo lately?


The 13th Floor Complete Collection by Christine Rains
Genre: paranormal romance
Release date: October 13th, 2013

Six supernatural tenants
Living in a haunted apartment building
On a floor that doesn't exist.

Six novellas telling their tales.
  • A retired demon acquires a price on his head.
  • A werewolf is hunted by her pack.
  • A modern day dragonslayer misses his target.
  • A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves.
  • A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find.
  • A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision.
  • And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.
All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.

Author Bio:
Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.

Website  //  Blog  //  Facebook  //  Twitter  //  Goodreads 

Buy here:
Amazon  //  B&N  //  Kobo  //  Smashwords 




50 comments:

  1. I feel the same way with photos, I used to do a lot of photography as a hobby (don't have time anymore too busy writing!) and always preferred to take the shot rather than be in it. Don't think you have anything to worry about with your new one, Christine, it looks great. Best wishes.

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    1. Thanks so much, Suzanne. I love taking pictures too. I think my son gets a little annoyed at times!

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  2. Love the new author photo, Christine! There's no reason to be nervous. :) Also...TAWA! Awesome!

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    1. Thank you, Heather! I couldn't leave Tawa out. :)

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  3. I LOVE the new photo! I don't think anyone really likes having their photo taken, but this looks really good!

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    1. Thank you, Kyra! Now I can hide behind the camera again. :)

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  4. I HATE to have my picture taken. Always have, always will. Just got a new pic taken for my driver's license the other day, and I am not a happy camper. The last license photo was taken more than fifteen years ago, and it only bore a slight (and skinny) resemblance to what I look like now... and I wasn't happy about it. But doggone it, the NEW picture looks like a fat old lady. (When exactly did SHE take over my body...?)

    Your new pics look terrific, and I especially like the one with TAWA.

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    1. Thanks, Susan! Oh man, driver's license photos. Yikes! I always wonder who that is in the pictures of me too. My inner image of me stopped aging at about 21!

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  5. You know how much I despise a camera! Your photo looks great. You're a redhead - didn't know that. Definitely use the one with Tawa. Goes back to your beginnings.

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    1. Thank you, Alex. Tawa takes much better photos too!

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  6. So cute! It's a great photo, I hate the camera, always looks like me. Can't we hire a stand in!
    Tawa is very photogenic!

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    1. If only I could just use Tawa as my author pic. She lovely stuffed hippo, and those button eyes!

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  7. Christine's right about a picture. A professional pic is very important. Years ago when I worked on the stage I had LOTS of them made. But now I'm happy with my anonymous avatar. *wink* Good luck to Christine and her new book! :-)

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    1. Thank you, Lexa! I'd like an anonymous avatar too, but since one book cover won't represent me, I need to at least try not to break the camera as I smile! :)

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  8. excellent photo, and I love your bio. Four degrees? wow. Good luck with your new book - sounds like a fun read. My photo looks like my passport - ugh - I'd rather be a blur.

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    1. Thank you, Joanne! Your picture looks lovely. As for the four degrees, I'd be a professional student if I could afford it!

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  9. Love the new author photo! <3

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  10. Great photo!!! I can relate to being more nervous about your own photo than the cover, but you had nothing to worry about. This is a great pic and I'm also so glad to see Tawa got in on the action LOL.

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    1. Thanks, Julie! Tawa wouldn't be quiet until I included her! *LOL*

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  11. Love it Christine!! The book and the photo!

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  12. That's a nice, photo.

    I do keep updating mine. I don't want to use one that's ten years younger than I am and give people a shock when they meet me.

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    1. Thank you, Patsy. That's very true. I used to look years younger than my age, but having a kid has taken away that! *laughs*

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  13. Great photo! Funny how these seem to be one of our biggest fears, but yours turned out great!

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  14. It's an awesome photo, Christine! Your hubby did a great job. I especially like the little stuffed animal - is that the one from Fearless? I don't get alone with the camera, either.

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    1. Yup, that's Tawa the stuffed hippo from Fearless. She'll get more photo opts in the future! Thanks, Gwen. :)

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  15. Wonderful photo!! :) And I love that Tawa had to be in there! I squealed a little bit because I love stuffed hippos... I possibly have six stuffed hippos sleeping in my bed, but if anyone asks you don't know anything about them. ;)

    I actually just had a friend do my author photos last weekend! She's getting her degree in photography and I can't wait to see them when she finishes with them. :)

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    1. Thank you, Krista. Tawa says there's only room for one stuffed hippo in this house! *LOL* Very nice to have your friend take your new photos. :)

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  16. Can't agree more on a professional photo... something I am really lacking in doing. Like you, I hate the camera. Your new author photo is fantastic, Christine:) No need to be nervous.

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    1. Thank you, Tania. Your photo is cute! I'm just glad I got it over with and won't have to do it again for a couple of years!

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  17. It looks fantastic! My author photo is less than a year old, so I think I have a few more miles with this one... :)

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    1. Thanks, Carrie! Oh yeah, at least. Yours is sharp!

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  18. Nice author photo. I still haven't taken care of getting one. I'll get it taken care of after the holidays.

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    1. Thank you, Susanne! The holidays are looming just in front of us, aren't they? Yikes!

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  20. Not everyone is as lucky as me--winning an ARC. Have I mentioned I'm reading it? If not, let me rub it in. Super stupendous!

    Great photo!

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    1. Thank you so much, Crystal! I'm so happy you're loving it. Makes me feel all giddy. :)

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  21. Thanks to everyone who's commented on Christine's great photo reveal. I've been putting off having my next set taken... I'm hoping this will push me into it :-)

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    1. Go for it, Annalisa! You have your own live-in photographer. :)

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  22. Hi Annalisa and Christine,

    One moment, I only just managed to get here. The camera loves you. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar also says so. As for me, she has told me to get rid of my photo :)

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    1. Hi Gary! Well, if Penny says so, I feel much better. She has good taste. :)

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  23. Hi Annalisa and Christine - great that Christine has joined you for her photo reveal - always a difficult thing to do - I too hate having my photo taken -

    I'm just in awe of Christine and her range of degrees - I wonder if her son will rise above Mum in the number count?!

    Christine I loved the one novella of yours I read - and now must read the others .. cheers to you both - and congratulations on your photo reveal - you look so cheerful .. not too brainy! Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary! I do hope my son will have my love of learning. He already adores going to preschool and he's surrounded by books at home. I want to nurture that natural curiosity in him. :)

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  24. Love that first line by Christine.... my camera takes a *lot* of pictures of *my* boys, too :)

    Congrats on the book - and the degrees.... gosh, the only ones I have are of various levels of separation...

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  25. Good advice! All these books, jeopardy and a family too! You are one busy lady! Wishing you only good things, my friend!

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  26. great advice! and i love how you manage to keep everything under control despite your busy schedule.
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  27. They're both great. My favorite one is with Tawa.

    I need to update my photo.

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